Manufacture of paper blankets



ATENT FFICEQ MELVIN B. CHURCH, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.-

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BLANKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 259,489, dated June 13, 1882. Application filed February 8, 1862. (No specimens.)

To a-ILw/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN B. CHURCH, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Paper Blankets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is an improved blanket composed of paper with a nap cemented thereon, the object of the invention being to provide a cheap, durable, and warm blanket, resemblingin appearance those made wholly ot'fiber.

it is well known that paper forms a covering exceedinglyimpervious to heat, and that even an ordinary, newspaper interposed between blankets ot' a bed adds materially to the warmth of the covering. Taking advantage of the in conductivity of paper to heat, I have devised a blanket'the foundation or body of which is composed of this material. The objections to a simple blanket of paper are its ordinary stiffness and inflexibility and its appcararce. To obviate these objections I make my blanket by covering the paper, first, with a coating of flexible adhesive mixture-such as an indiedia-rubber glue-and then flocking or coating over the adhesive surface. This may be done in any of the well-known ways. I prefer to use as the basis for the blanket a sheet of stout manila paper. This I render flexible by running it through a set of corrugated rollers, or in any other suitable way. Over the paper I spread a thin coat of india-rubber cement or other flexible adhesive material which will remain flexible when dry, and then spread upon the surface of the paper thus coated a coat of fiber, either of wool or cotton, or of a mixture of both. This may be done by reducing the fiber to proper form, and then spreading it by evenly siftin g over the surface While yet fresh and undried. This spreading may be effected by hand or by any suitable machinery.

The flocking or covering of short fibers may be colored to any tint, and the colors may be varied by striping upon the borders. The fibrous covering may be applied before the paper is made flexible, if desired, as the cement is of such a nature as not to break.

Instead of the flocking sifted upon the adhesive surface, I may weave aloose cheap cloth having a long nap, and glue the cloth itself to the paper, either upon one or both sides.- The cloth itself may be of the cheapest possible material, and is intended only to hold the nap.

This blanketmay be washed by rubbing with a wet sponge or cloth, or, in fact, may be immersed in water without injury, as the rubber cement forms a complete water-proof coating. It is perfectlyair-proot', highly non-conductive of heat, and forms a very warm blanket, hardly distinguishable upon inspection from an ordlnary woven blanket. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A blanket formed of paper covered with a fibrous coating cemented thereon, as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MELVIN B. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

F. L. MIDDLETON, E. A. DICK. 

